While we spend a lot of time talking about the choice of key light and how it is used in a portrait, it is often not the only light source present in a shot. The fill light makes a large difference in the final look of your image and deserves just as much attention as the key. This great video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of different fill lights and how they affect the final look of your portrait photos.
Coming to you from John Gress, this helpful video tutorial will show you a variety of different fill lights for portraiture and the different effects they will have on your final image. In portraiture, the key light is almost always overhead, and this can produce overly dark and harsh shadows on certain parts of the subject's face. A fill light complements the key light by reducing some of those harsh contrasts by adding some light back to the shadow areas and softening them for a more flattering overall effect. Just like your key light, though, your choice of modifier for the fill light will have an impact on the look it creates. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gress.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
